Closure for pressurized vessels



R. T. CORNELIUS 2,938,647

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS May 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1955 RICHARD T. CORNELIUS INVENTOR tar/ATTORNEYS May 31, 1960 R. T. CORNELIUS 2, 3

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS Filed Nov. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 INVENTOR RICHARD T. CORNELIUS CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to The Cornelius Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Nov. 23, 1955, Ser. No. 548,639

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-55.3)

The herein disclosed invention relates to closures for pressurized vessels and has for an object to provide a closure which cannot be removed while the vessel is under pressure.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a closure utilizing a neck issuing from the vessel and formed with an inner axially extending surface defining a passageway therethrough and in providing a stopper adapted to be positioned in said neck and provided with an outer surface corresponding with said inner surface and extending along and spaced from said inner surface to form an axially extending annular space therebetween and in further providing an O-ring disposed in said space and engaging said surfaces and adapted to roll along said surfaces as the stopper is moved relative to said neck.

A further object of the invention resides in constructing both said neck and stopper of sheet metal.

A feature of the invention resides in making the length of the denoted surface of the stopper greater than that of the neck to cause the O-ring to be retained on the stopper when the stopper is removed from the neck.

- An object of the invention resides in providing restraining means on the stopper for restraining outward movement of the O-iing, and other restraining means on the neck for restraining inward movement thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the stopper with a rim adapted to closely fit into the neck.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing fastening means for securing the stopper to the neck, said fastening means comprising juxtaposed outwardly extending flanges on the upper ends of the neck and stopper and in further providing a split ring having spaced legs straddling said flanges to hold the stopper in position.

A feature of the invention resides in forming the inner edge of the upper leg of the ring with a lip which clears the rim and upper flange of the stopper when the parts are assembled and which falls behind the upper flange of the closure when pressure is applied to the vessel to restrain removal of the ring and stopper while the vessel is under pressure.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a vessel illustrating an embodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the vessel and showing the closure in closing position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational-sectional view taken on a line diametrically of Fig. 1 of the vessel with the stopper being applied thereto and drawn to a scale.

greater "nited States Patent C '7 outer surface 27 spaced from the surface 16 of neck 14 to Patented May 31, 1960 Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the stopper forced completely into the neck of the vessel.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and showing the fasteningring being applied to the closure.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the fastening ring in place'with reference to the closure. 7 Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and showing the vessel 7 The closure constituting the instant invention is in-' dicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 13 and consists of a neck 14 which is constructed of sheet metal and drawn into the form illustrated. This neck is generally cylindrical in shape, having a cylindrical body portion 15 provided with an inner cylindrical surface 16 defining a passageway 17 through the neck and communieating with the exterior and with the interior 18 of the vessel. This neck is formed with a bead 19 extending inwardly into said neck and beyond the surface 16 and which serves a purpose to be presently described. At the upper end of the neck 14 is formed an outwardly extending flange 21 which has a downwardly'facing shoulder 22. The neck 14 is formed at its lower end. with a marginal portion 23 which lies in continuation of the wall of the top 12 and is connected thereto by means of a weld 24 lieceived in the neck 14 is a stopper 25 which is also constructed of sheet material. with a cylindrical body portion 26 having a cylindrical form an annular space 28 therebetween. The stopper also has a bottom 29 which extends across the passageway 17 in the neck and which is connected to the body portion 26.

At the uppermost end of the body portion 26 is formed an outwardly extending flange 31 and issuing upwardly from this flange is a rim 32 which is engageable with the surface 16 of the neck 14 and which centers the stopper in said neck and maintains the space 28 uniform throughout its extent. Issuing outwardly from the rim 32 is an outwardly extending flange 33 which overlies the flange 21 1 and which has an upwardly facing shoulder 34.

Disposed within the space 28 between the body portion 15 of neck 14 and the body portion 26 of stopper 25 is an O-ring 35, the cross-sectional diameter of which is slightly greater than the width of the space 28. This O-ring'is confined in said space between the flange 31 on the stopper 25 and the bead 19 on the neck 15 which serve as restraining means for restraining outward and inward movement 1 of the 'O-ring when the stopper is in closing position- When the stopper is removed, the O-ring 35 rolls along the surfaces 16 and 27 until the said O-ring passes the flange 21 of the neck 14. The surface 27 is preferably made longer than the surface 16 so that the O-ring is still prising two sections 37 and 38 best shown in Figs. 5 and, 6. These sections are actuated in form-and when asse'm bled form substantially a complete circle. The sang- This stopper is formed' sections are channel-shaped in cross section and are formed witha web 41 and with legs 42 and 43- extending downwardly therefrom. The leg 43 is adapted to extend beneath the flange 21 of the neck 14 and to engage the shoulder 22 on the flange 21 thereof. The leg 42 is adapted to overlie the flange 34 of stopper 25 and is of a width somewhat greater than the width of the flange 33 of stopper 25. Leg 42 is formed at its inner edge with a downwardly turned lip 44 which extends inwardly of the rim 32 of stopper 25. The spacing between thelowermost corner 45 of this lip and the flange 43 of said ring is slightly greater than the combined thickness of the flanges 21 and 33'. By means of this'constructio'n the two ring sections may he slid over the flanges when thestopper is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and. 7. When, however, pressure is applied to the container, the stopper 25 is raised and, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position, the lip 44 lies in back of the rim 32 of stopper 25 and prevents removal of the ring sections 37 and 38 as well as the stopper itself.

The two stopper sections 37 and 38 are connected together by means of a handle 46 constructed of a strip. of resilient material such as spring steel or the like. This handle is constructed to form a handle-bar 47 which may be gripped by the hand and which is arcuate i'ncross section to fit the interior of the hand. Issuing downwardly from said handle-bar are hangers 48 which are loosely pivoted on studs 49. The said studs are secured to lugs 51 which are formed of the material of the web 41 of the ring sections 37 and 38. The material from which the ring sectionsare constructed issevered' intermediate the ends of each section from the flange 43' and the. severed portion is allowed to extend downwardly below the web 41 and is disposed in the plane thereof. The

studs 49 are welded or riveted to these lugs or secured thereto in any other desirable manner. The studs 49 have. heads 52 ion the outer ends thereof which prevent disengagement of the handle hangers therefrom.

Mounted in the bottom 29 of the stopper 25 are two fittings 53 and 54. The fitting 53 has a tube 55 secured to it and which extends down to the bottom of the vessel. This fitting serves as a discharge fitting for the receptacle. Fitting 54 is similarly constructed but discharges directly into the top of the vessel and serves as an inlet fitting for the same. Both fittings are provided with connections 56 and to which tubes or hose may be readily connected. Thehose connected to the fitting 53 goes to the discharge faucet or valve of the system with which the vessel is to be used and the hose connected to the fitting 54 goes to a source of a fluid with which the vessel is to be filled. In both fittings are provided check valves preventing discharge from the vessel when not in use and the connector attached to the hose applied to fitting 57, is adapted to open the check valve when the vessel is in use. Such construction being well known in the art has not been shown in the drawings.

The manner of using the invention is as follows: With the -ring 35 positioned on the body portion 26 of stopper 25, as shown in Fig. 3, the stopper is inserted into the neck 14 and forced downwardly. This causes the 0-ring 35 to roll along the surfaces 16 and 27 of said neck and stopper until the same reaches the position shown in Fig. 4 and until the flange 33 of the stopper 25 engagm the flange 21 of neck 14. The split ring 36 is next applied as shown in Figs. and 6. Ring section 38;is first placed, in position, as shown in Fig. 6, with the ring section 37 above the flange 33. The end 57 of ring section 37 is next inserted over the flanges 21 and 33, as shown in Fig. 6, and the handle hanger 48 sprung outwardly until the other end 58 of said ringsection can bemade to clear the flanges 33 and 32. The ringsection 37 is then brought into the plane of the ring section 38v and the resliency of the handle 46 causes the section 37 to approach the section 38 and the section 37 isi The.

causedvto occupy the position shown in Fig. 1.

' vessel with the stopper applied is now ready to be used.

If a liquid under pres-sure is to be dispensed from the vessel, such as a carbonated beverage, the same is introduced into the vessel through the inlet fitting 54. After sufficient pressure builds up in the vessel, the flow of the liquid into the same is discontinued. As soon as the pressure rises, the stopper 25 is raised, the O-ring 35 rolling along the surfaces 16Zand 27 of the neck 14 and stopper 25. Such movement occurs until the shoulder 34 of flange 33 of said stopper engages the leg 42 of the ring sections 37 and 38. When so positioned the parts hecome arranged as shown-inlF-i'g. 8. In such position, the lip 44 on leg 42 drops behind. the rim 32 of the stopper and prevents the ring sections 37 and 38 from being disengaged from the closure. This likewise prevents removal of the stopper-25' fromthe neck 14' The handle 46, in addition to holding the two ring sections, also serves as a carrying handle which may be dropped downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, when not in use. The studs 49 being attached to; the depending portions of the rings are sufliciently offset so that the handle 47 together with the hangers 48 and the handlebar 47 lie below the upper surface of the ring 36. 7

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The vessel and closure can be constructed entirely of sheet metal and at a nominal expense. By the use of the 0- ring the parts become readily detachable and both the vesseland the stopper-can be thoroughly washed so as toproduce a highly sanitary, construction. The ring sections being connected together with the handle will not become separated from one another or lost and are always available for use. The resiliency of the handle tends to urge the ring sections into-proper fastening position. By means of the-lip formed on the upper leg of the ring sections, the ring sections cannot be removed and correspondingly the closure cannot be removed when the vessel is under pressure. By the use of an O-ring for sealing means, :the same can be-caused to roll on the contacting surfaces and thus permitxthe quick and easy removal of the stopper from the vessel. By constructing the surface of the body portion of the-stopper longer than the surface of the neck, the O-ring is always retained on the stopper when the stopper is removed. The retaining means employed prevents entry of the O-ring into the vessel and also prevents outward movement of the O-ring relative to the stopper.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

A closure for a pressurized vessel comprising a neck on said vessel formed with an inner axially extending surface defining a passageway through said neck, a stopper disposed within said neck and provided with an outer surface corresponding with said inner surface and extending along and spaced from said inner surface to form an axially extending space therebetween, a flexible O-ring disposed in said space and engaging both of said surfaces, said O-ring being adapted to roll along said surfaces upon movement of the stopper along said neck, the surface of said stopper being longer than the surface of said neck whereby the O-ring is retained on the stopper when the stopper is Withdrawn from the neck, a flange on said stopper extending outwardly therefrom and into said space and overlying said O-ring, a rim formedon said flange and engaging said neck, a flange formed on said neck and extending outwardly therefrom,

a flange formed on said rim and extending outwardly therefrom and overlyingthe flange on said neck, a channel-shaped split ring having spaced legs straddling said overlying flanges and holding the stopper in closing position and a lip formed-on the inner edge of the upper leg of the ring and which clears the flange on the rim References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 232,925 Betts Oct. 15, 1880 1,502,673 Hale July 29, 1924 1,949,303 Garfein Feb. 27, 1934 2,277,824 Franson Mar. 31, 1942 10 6 Beaird Apr. 17, 1951 Scott May 12, 1953 Mack Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany 1888 France May 4, 1904 Great Britain May 13, 1938 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1950 Great Britain June 3, 1953 

